Sewing machine device adapted for applying closed tubular strapping to fabric edges

ABSTRACT

Means applicable to a conventional sewing machine particularly adapted for guiding a fabric edge and a closed tubular strapping to the sewing needle in a manner whereby the fabric edge is overlapped on both sides thereof by double layers of the tubular strapping.

United States Patent Marforio [54} SEWING MACHINE DEVICE ADAPTED FOR APPLYING CLOSED TUBULAR STRAPPING T0 FABRIC EDGES [72] lnventor: Nerino Marforlo, Milan, Italy [73] Assignee: S.p.A. Vlrginio Rimoldi & C.,-Milan,

Italy [22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1968 [21] App]. No.: 756,247

[30} Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 7, 1967 Italy ..20222 Al 67 [52] [1.5. CI ..ll2/147 [51] ..D05b 35/08.

[58] Field ofSearch ..112 147, 136, 137, 138, 141-143, 12/152 1451 Apr. 25, 1972 71 [56] References Clted UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,958 2/1914 Abramowitz ..112/147 1,959,121 5/1934 A1len., "112/141 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 57 I 1 ABSTRACT Means applicable to a conventional sewing machine particularly adapted for guiding a fabric edge and a closed tubular 1 strapping to the sewing needle in a manner whereby the fabric edge is overlapped on both sides thereof by double layers of the tubular strapping.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 25 I972 SHEET 1 BF 3 FIG.1

FIGS

INVENTOR NERINO MARFQRIO MMWM ORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3, 658.020

SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR NERINO MARFORIO OR NEYS PATENTEDAPRZS 1972 3, 658.020

SHEET 3 {1F 3' INVENTOR NERINO MARFORIO ATTORNEYS SEWING MACHINE DEVICEADAPTED FOR APPLYING CLOSED TUBULAR STRAPPING T FABRIC .EDGES The present invention refers to a device particularly adapted for applying a closed tubular strapping along the edge of a fabric, such as knitwear articles, said device being applied to a sewing machine, for example, of the chain stitch type.

Sewing machines provided 'with guides for inserting the edges of knitwear articles between the split edges of lining strappings or so-called collars also made of knit material are already known. They are especially used for the lining of knit outerwear articles, forexample, along the edges of the neck opening, at the extremity of the sleeves, along the lower edges, etc. However, known guides have the disadvantage of being complicated and of requiring, for their use, specialized personnel thereby accounting for a large part of the manufacturing costs of such knitwear articles.

An object of this invention is that of eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a simple device of the type mentioned, which is simple to use. The technical problem to be solved, in this regard, was that of realizing a device provided with such means as to guide the knitwear article and, at

the same time, fold the tubular strapping so that, while feeding both to the needle, the insertion of the edge of the knitwear article into the folds formed in the tubular strapping automatically takes place. According to this invention, a device of the type mentioned is provided comprising a fixed guide provided with fins and a movable guide provided with a bar ending in two curved branches which are curved and spaced from each other, the tubular strapping being slidable around said bar so that when said bar is positioned near to the fixed guide in the working position, the said fixed guide fins insert themselves between said branches and thereby fold said strapping forming two double layer laps between which the edge of the knitwear article is inserted and sewn.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are those which are inherent therein and which will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of realization, which description is referred to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents in perspective the device of this invention attached to a conventional sewing machine;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views of the device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the device in the working position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation view of a part of the device;

FIG. 6 is a section view of FIG. 5 taken along line VI-VI;

FIG. 7 shows the device of FIG. 4 with the knitted parts to be joined mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is a section view of FIG. 7 taken along line VIII- VIII;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a portion of tubular strapping; and,

FIG. 10 is a section view through the finished work.

The sewing machine onto which the device which is the subject of this invention is mounted is constituted by known parts such as the arm 1 supported by the bed plate 2, the tension device 3 for tensioning the thread leading to needle 4 and the tension device 5 for tensioning the thread of the looper (not shown) which is mounted within the base 2, and, the presserfoot 6 provided with a hole 7 through which passes the needle 4.

The presserfoot 6 which is fixed by means of the screw 8 to the presser bar 9 is composedof a spring urged sole 10 provided with a hole 7 and a second sole l1 oscillatable about horizontal pin 11' about which it is urged by means of the spring 12, one of whose ends presses against screw 13 which is fixed to the smaller cylinder 14 which bears against the upper surface of sole 11. The device which constitutes the invention is composed of a fixed guide 16 and a movable guide 17 which work together in a way which will be hereinafter described.

The guide 16 includes a generally horizontal resting surface 16 and a vertical extension 18 for fixing guide 16 to base 2 by means of the screw 19. Guide 16 also includes successively towards the needle 4, a primary pair of guiding fins 20, a secondary pair of fins 21 and a third folding fin 22 placed near presserfoot 6 (FIG. 4). The movable guide 17 (FIG. 1) includes a bar 23 terminating in two curved branches 24 vertically spaced from each other. At the end opposite to said branches, the bar 23 terminates in a hand-knob. 25 by which guide 17 can be gripped to be moved from the position represented by the continuous line to that represented by the dotted line and vice versa.

Bar 23 is mounted between upper and lower rollers 26 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which are freely rotatably mounted between the two plates 27' and 28. Bar 23, therefore, is longitudinally slidable between plates 27 and 28 with the rollers 26 providing rolling support therefor along its top and bottom edges. In this regard, it is to be noted that the rollers are spaced apart along the length of bar 23 a sufficient distance so as to provide vertical stability to the bar against tilting thereof in a vertical plane.

, Onto bar 23 is fixed, by means of screws 29, a plate 30 which delimits the travel of the bar 23 in the direction towards the guide 16. In fact, the forward edge 31 of the plate 30 is arranged to abut against the rear edge 32 of the plate 28. Onto said plate 30 there is fulcrumed the lever 33 about pin 34. An end of said lever 33 is provided with a tooth 35 which engages in a notch in plate 28 while its opposite end is urged upwardly by spring 36, so that the movable guide '17 is thereby prevented from being moved away from this working position (FIGS. 1 and 5) by various causes, such as vibrations of the machine or inadvertence of the operator.

To move said guide into the position shown by the dotted line (FIG. 1) it is necessary to press on lever 33 against the action of spring 36 until tooth 35 is disengaged from the notch in plate 28 and, at the same time, longitudinally slide bar 23 to the right (FIGS. 1 and 5) by gripping knob 25 and pulling thereon. During its movement, the bar 23 is guided in the vertical sense between rollers 26 and in the horizontal sense between plates 27 and 36', the latter of which is resiliently urged by means of the two little springs 37 which are mounted about horizontal pins 38 towards the stationary plate 27. In this regard, it will be noted that bar 23 is, to a limited extent, tiltable in a horizontal plane relative to fixed plate 27. Plate 27 is part of a support 39 fixed to the base 2 of the machine.

The tubular strapping-40 (FIG. 9-) is composed of a tubular knit body 41 stitched along edge 42, and by a unitary knit body 43. For application of the tubular strapping 40 toa knitwear article 44, guide 17 is brought into the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1 and the a precut length of tubular strapping 40 is telescoped over guide 17 beginning at the free end thereof so that the edge 42 is centrally positioned along the outer vertical side of bar 23 which faces fixed guide 16. Guide 17 is then pushed along rollers 26 until it reaches the position represented by the solid line in FIG. 1 so that the fixed fins 21 and 22 insert themselves into the vertical space between the two branches 24 and thereby fold the tubular body 41 along the stitched edge 42 (FIGS. 7 and 8). The forward end 45 of the strapping 40 is then brought under the sole 10 of the presserfoot 6 (FIG. 2) and the longitudinal edge 46 of the knitwear article 44 disposes itself on the resting surface 16' so that it is guided under the presserfoot sole 11.

Thereafter, the known work feeder, not illustrated, simultaneously advances the strapping 40 and article 44 under the presserfoot 6 uniting them together by means of stitching 47 carried out by needle 4 together with a looper (not shown). In this way, the edge 46 of the knitwear article 44 becomes stitched between the two double layer laps 48 and 49 of the strapping 40.

When the stitching is completed, an end of the thread which forms the stitched edge 42 is pulled so that edge 42 becomes unstitched, and the laps 48 and 49 dispose themselves with respect to the edge of the knitwear article 44 inserted therebetween in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 10.

Use of the apparatus of this invention in the manner described herein eliminates the presence of undulations or other thickness variations along the length of the joint. shown in FIG. 10.

The details presented herein of a preferred embodiment of realization are illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the disclosed invention concept, it being understood that any departure from any such detail which is of an obvious nature or well within the purview of one skilled in the art is intended to be embodied by the present invention. For example, the attachment means of this invention could be employed, if desired, to simply fold and sew a tubular strapping in the form of double layer overlying laps 48 and 49 without necessarily having piece 44 interposed therebetween. Also, conceivably, the first guide member 16 could be curved while the second member 17 is straight so long as the gradual merging relationship of the two members is maintained. In this regard, it will be noted that the fin means 20, 21, and 22 are configured so as to perform a gradual folding over of the tubular strapping as it advances towards the free end of the member 17.

What is claimed is:

1, An attachment means mountable upon a sewing machine for the purpose of folding and sewing a length of a tubular strapping in the form of double layer overlying laps, comprising: a first guide member fixedly mountable in advance of the machine resser-foot along the path of travel of a workpiece which is to be sewn, a second elongate guide member having a free end portion defined by vertically spaced apart branches, said branches being positionable alongside said first guide member, said first guide member including a fin means adapted to lie along a lengthwise portion of said branches with said fin means extending transversely into the space between said branches, a support for mounting said elongate member on a sewing machine whereby said elongate member is longitudinally slidable in respective opposite directions relative to said support, said second guide member being movable along said support to a position whereby said fin means are retracted outwardly from between said branches whereby a tubular strapping may be telescopically slid over said second member beginning at the free end thereof, said fin means pursuant to said fins extending between said branches being adapted to fold such a strapping into double layer overlying laps with said laps forming a generally U-shape which opens in a direction whereby said laps are free to receive therebetween a flat workpiece which is being fed simultaneously with said strapping to the machine needle.

2. The attachment means of claim 10, said second guide member branches and said first member fin means progressively merging towards each other and said fin means progressively extending to a greater degree between said branches in the direction towards the free end of said second guide member, whereby said fin means serve to effect the aforementioned folding of a tubular strapping gradually and to an increasing extent as the strapping advances towards said free end.

3. The attachment means of claim 2, wherein said fin means comprises a series of longitudinally successive fins adapted to progressively fold a strapping as it advances therealong.

4. The attachment means of claim 1, said first guide member including a surface portion adapted to support a flat fabric along the midplane between said branches, said first and second guide members being adapted to simultaneously guide said tubular strapping and said flat fabric workpiece towards the respective free ends of said members with the fabric being fitted between said folded double layer laps of said strapping.

5. The attachment means of claim 1, said second member being movably mounted on said support between a first working position relative to said first member and a second position detached from said first member, and including locking means for locking said second member in said first position.

6. The attachment means of claim 5, said second member being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in said sup- The attachment means of claim 6, said second member branches being curved relative to the longitudinal extent of said fin means whereby said branches and said fin means progressively merge in the direction towards the free end of said branches.

8. The attachment means of claim 1, in combination with a conventional sewing machine.

9. An attachment means mountable upon a sewing machine for the purpose of folding and sewing a'length of a tubular strapping in the form of double layer overlying laps, comprising: a first guide member fixedly mountable in advance of the machine presser-foot along the path of travel of a workpiece which is to be sewn, a second elongate guide member having a free end portion defined by vertically spaced apart branches, said branches being positionable alongside said first guide member, said first guide member including a fin means adapted to lie along a lengthwise portion of said branches with said fin means extending transversely into the space between said branches over said second guide member being movable on said support to a position whereby said fin means are retracted outwardly from between said branches whereby a tubular strapping may be telescopically slid over said second member beginning at the free end thereof, said fin means being adapted to fold such a strapping into double layer overlying laps pursuant to said fins extending between said branches, said support comprising a pair of opposed plate members, the first of which is fixed and means resiliently urging the second of which towards the first, said second guide member extending between said plate members and being longitudinally slidable relative thereto. 

1. An attachment means mountable upon a sewing machine for the purpose of folding and sewing a length of a tubular strapping in the form of double layer overlying laps, comprising: a first guide member fixedly mountable in advance of the machine presserfoot along the path of travel of a workpiece which is to be sewn, a second elongate guide member having a free end portion defined by vertically spaced apart branches, said branches being positionable alongside said first guide member, said first guide member including a fin means adapted to lie along a lengthwise portion of said branches with said fin means extending transversely into the space between said branches, a support for mounting said elongate member on a sewing machine whereby said elongate member is longitudinally slidable in respective opposite directions relative to said support, said second guide member being movable along said support to a position whereby said fin means are retracted outwardly from between said branches whereby a tubular strapping may be telescopically slid over said second member beginning at the free end thereof, said fin means pursuant to said fins extending between said branches being adapted to fold such a strapping into double layer overlying laps with said laps forming a generally U-shape which opens in a direction whereby said laps are free to receive therebetween a flat workpiece which is being fed simultaneously with said strapping to the machine needle.
 2. The attachment means of claim 10, said second guide member branches and said first member fin means progressively merging towards each other and said fin means progressively extending to a greater degree between said branches in the direction towards the free end of said second guide member, whereby said Fin means serve to effect the aforementioned folding of a tubular strapping gradually and to an increasing extent as the strapping advances towards said free end.
 3. The attachment means of claim 2, wherein said fin means comprises a series of longitudinally successive fins adapted to progressively fold a strapping as it advances therealong.
 4. The attachment means of claim 1, said first guide member including a surface portion adapted to support a flat fabric along the midplane between said branches, said first and second guide members being adapted to simultaneously guide said tubular strapping and said flat fabric workpiece towards the respective free ends of said members with the fabric being fitted between said folded double layer laps of said strapping.
 5. The attachment means of claim 1, said second member being movably mounted on said support between a first working position relative to said first member and a second position detached from said first member, and including locking means for locking said second member in said first position.
 6. The attachment means of claim 5, said second member being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in said support.
 7. The attachment means of claim 6, said second member branches being curved relative to the longitudinal extent of said fin means whereby said branches and said fin means progressively merge in the direction towards the free end of said branches.
 8. The attachment means of claim 1, in combination with a conventional sewing machine.
 9. An attachment means mountable upon a sewing machine for the purpose of folding and sewing a length of a tubular strapping in the form of double layer overlying laps, comprising: a first guide member fixedly mountable in advance of the machine presser-foot along the path of travel of a workpiece which is to be sewn, a second elongate guide member having a free end portion defined by vertically spaced apart branches, said branches being positionable alongside said first guide member, said first guide member including a fin means adapted to lie along a lengthwise portion of said branches with said fin means extending transversely into the space between said branches over said second guide member being movable on said support to a position whereby said fin means are retracted outwardly from between said branches whereby a tubular strapping may be telescopically slid over said second member beginning at the free end thereof, said fin means being adapted to fold such a strapping into double layer overlying laps pursuant to said fins extending between said branches, said support comprising a pair of opposed plate members, the first of which is fixed and means resiliently urging the second of which towards the first, said second guide member extending between said plate members and being longitudinally slidable relative thereto. 